curious about menstrual cycle resuming after chemo

mariam_11_09
mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
hi, hope everyone is in the best of spirits considering what everyone is going through. I wrote a while back whining about my gynecological issues. Well, I feel I have been having some sort of hormonal cycle for a few months now although I have not had my menses until a couple of days ago since when I have had an extremely light bleeding of fresh and old blood (brown and red) and my hot flashes are almost non-existent. I am 10 months out of chemo now and still on Herceptin.

The gyne I saw told me at my age (45) I would not resume my menstrual cycle however I read that women of my age have only a 20% chance of resuming their menstrual cycle so it is not an absolute that I won't. When I had the ultrasound the endometrial lining was much thicker than normal for someone who is not menstruating. I do have an appointment to see another gyne on 7/15.

I am curious to know how many of you in your 40s have resumed your menstrual cycle after chemo and did you notice any changes in your body, did it start lightly and take its time. I know everyone is different but as I said I am very curious to see how women have responded post-chemo.

Of course, any number of things could be happening to me and like I mentioned I do have an appointment with another gyne.

thanks very much
Mariam

Comments

  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #2
    Aunt Flo loves me
    Hi, Mariam -

    I was 40 when I did 4 rounds of TC 2 years ago, and have now been on Tamoxifen for almost 2 years. None of that did much at all to deter Aunt Flo from her monthly visits.

    During and for a few months after chemo, I only got my period about every 2 months, and it was HEAVY. But, by about 3 months after finishing chemo, it was back regular like the moon -- not light or heavy, just normal, and with all the same PMS symptoms I always had -- and has continued ever since.

    Don't know if that helps at all, but thought I'd weigh in as one of the ones who was really, REALLY hoping for chemo-induced menopause, but didn't get it!

    Traci
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #3
    TraciInLA said:

    Aunt Flo loves me
    Hi, Mariam -

    I was 40 when I did 4 rounds of TC 2 years ago, and have now been on Tamoxifen for almost 2 years. None of that did much at all to deter Aunt Flo from her monthly visits.

    During and for a few months after chemo, I only got my period about every 2 months, and it was HEAVY. But, by about 3 months after finishing chemo, it was back regular like the moon -- not light or heavy, just normal, and with all the same PMS symptoms I always had -- and has continued ever since.

    Don't know if that helps at all, but thought I'd weigh in as one of the ones who was really, REALLY hoping for chemo-induced menopause, but didn't get it!

    Traci

    Thanks TracilnLA
    I asked a very similar question several hours earlier today and was surprised that nobody had any feedback. Your answer is very helpful.

    Clementine
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #4
    Clementine_P said:

    Thanks TracilnLA
    I asked a very similar question several hours earlier today and was surprised that nobody had any feedback. Your answer is very helpful.

    Clementine

    Missed your post earlier, Clementine!
    Clementine, I just now saw your post on pre-menopause/post-chemo when I logged on, but somehow missed it when I was on earlier -- I'm sorry!

    You mentioned in your other post that you had been on the pill since age 18 -- I was also on the pill for nearly as long, from age 23 until the day I was diagnosed at 40.

    One interesting thing: When I was a teenager, my periods were always every 30 days -- you could set your watch by them. Then, for 17 years on the pill, they were, of course, every 28 days. Once my period came back regular after chemo, it's like my body has "remembered" what it's "default setting" is from 20 years ago, and...Aunt Flo comes every 30 days again. So weird how our bodies work.

    Traci
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #5
    TraciInLA said:

    Missed your post earlier, Clementine!
    Clementine, I just now saw your post on pre-menopause/post-chemo when I logged on, but somehow missed it when I was on earlier -- I'm sorry!

    You mentioned in your other post that you had been on the pill since age 18 -- I was also on the pill for nearly as long, from age 23 until the day I was diagnosed at 40.

    One interesting thing: When I was a teenager, my periods were always every 30 days -- you could set your watch by them. Then, for 17 years on the pill, they were, of course, every 28 days. Once my period came back regular after chemo, it's like my body has "remembered" what it's "default setting" is from 20 years ago, and...Aunt Flo comes every 30 days again. So weird how our bodies work.

    Traci

    Oh my gosh!
    Nothing to be sorry about! Coincidental that someone else posted on pretty much the same topic on the same day. Your info was really very helpful.

    I'm sort of looking forward (sort of like a spectator) to seeing how this plays out with me. I was very regular as well but super heavy! So hopefully my body remembers (like yours did) the regularity part of my Aunt Flo but not the heavy part! Totally weird how our bodies work but really interesting as well (imho). Um, if you are listening Aunt Flo, I was really loving the not breaking out in pimples part of chemopause. I promise to be a good person and eat all my veggies, if you don't bring that back with you!!

    Thanks a bunch again, Traci!

Discussion Boards